Bordeaux close in on title

Girondins Bordeaux moved closer to the Ligue 1 title on Saturday when a 1-0 win at home to Monaco kept them three points clear of Olympique Marseille with just one game left to play.

Bordeaux, who were last crowned champions 10 years ago, are
on 77 points after extending their winning streak to 10 league
games.

They will visit strugglers Caen next Saturday.

Marseille, second on 74 points, secured automatic entry to
the Champions League with a 2-1 win at Nancy before they host
Stade Rennes for their last game.

"We would have liked Nancy to hold Marseille but at least we
won," Bordeaux playmaker Yoann Gourcuff told Canal Plus
television. "Everything is still possible and it will be a tight
race until the end," he added.

Olympique Lyon are now certain to end the season in third,
and will go through to Champions League qualifying, after a 3-1
home victory against Caen gave them 70 points, seven ahead of
fourth-placed Toulouse, who won 2-0 at Nice.

Bordeaux struggled throughout the game but prevailed thanks
to a first-half header from Morocco striker Marouane Chamakh
from a Yoann Gourcuff free kick.

"We were a bit nervous as we knew what was at stake,"
Gourcuff told Canal Plus.

Marseille also feared a Nancy comeback when they conceded a
goal from Landry N'Guemo two minutes from time.

Laurent Bonnart had put Marseille in front before the
interval through a deflected shot, with Brandao getting the
second from close range after Nancy goalkeeper Damien Gregorini
had saved a Renato Civelli header from a corner.

"We should have won 6-0," Marseille coach Eric Gerets told
reporters. "Bordeaux still have the best chances to win the
title," he added.

Juninho scored his 100th goal for Lyon when he converted
from the spot after being brought down in the area.

The Brazilian midfielder was then given a standing ovation
from Lyon's fans when he was substituted after the interval.

Ligue 1 top scorer Andre-Pierre Gignac scored two to take
his tally to 24 goals as he helped Toulouse move up to fourth
with a 2-0 win over Nice.

Second-bottom Nantes lost 2-1 at fellow strugglers Sochaux
and are on the brink of relegation to Ligue 2.